Just as the match looked to be slipping through United's fingers at the bet365 Stadium, the 31-year-old stepped up - like he has done so many times since joining from Everton in 2004 - to land a crucial blow.

Rooney's outstanding free-kick sent the visiting support wild, cancelling out Juan Mata's first-half own goal and securing a 1-1 draw that saw the captain move clear as United's all-time top scorer in front of Sir Bobby Charlton.